Do not treat “Best of Both” as a shortcut for choosing toddler pancakes: the verified UK product using that name is a 50% white and 50% wholemeal bread, not a pancake. For a routine toddler breakfast, compare plain options by their current ingredient and nutrition labels, or make pancakes at home when controlling the flour blend, toppings and serving size matters most.
For carers of children aged about 1 to 4 who want pancakes to be one part of a varied breakfast rather than a dessert-style default. Focus on simple ingredients, modest servings and less-sweet choices; NHS guidance advises avoiding foods and drinks with sugar or sweeteners for children aged 4 and under, while the British Nutrition Foundation advises limiting sweetened versions where possible.
For families whose toddler is more familiar with white-flour foods but who want to offer a mixture of white and wholegrain starchy foods. The British Nutrition Foundation gives this approach for 1-to-4-year-olds; a homemade blend gives clearer flour control than assuming a “Best of Both” claim applies to pancakes.
For families sending pancakes in a packed meal. Check the individual setting’s allergy policy and the live product label, particularly where wheat or gluten, egg or milk are relevant. Department for Education guidance for England says schools must publish an allergy safety policy.
Choose it when: You want direct control over the white-to-wholegrain flour mix, toppings and serving size.
Consider: It takes preparation and cooking time, and a wholegrain blend may change texture for some toddlers.
Choose it when: Convenience matters and the current pack label suits the child’s ingredient and allergen needs.
Consider: Recipes vary, so compare sugars, salt and allergens on the individual pack rather than relying on the product name.
Choose it when: It is an occasional family treat rather than the default toddler breakfast.
Consider: Chocolate-chip, syrup-flavoured and dessert-style varieties can make sweetness the main flavour expectation.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Sweetness | Compare sugars per 100g and read the ingredient list. Check whether the variety is plain, chocolate-chip, syrup-led or dessert-style. | I want breakfast pancakes that do not make sugary or sweetener-containing foods an everyday expectation. NHS guidance for children aged 4 and under advises avoiding foods and drinks with sugar or sweeteners. |
| Flour type | Read the ingredient list for the actual flour types. Do not infer wholegrain content from brown colour, flavour or branding. | I want a workable mix of familiar white-flour foods and wholegrain starchy foods. A homemade recipe lets me choose the blend my toddler will eat; the British Nutrition Foundation advises offering 1-to-4-year-olds a mixture of white and wholegrain foods. |
| Allergens | Read the label just before purchase or packing. Check for cereals containing gluten, egg and milk, and review the individual school or nursery policy where relevant. | I need a pancake that fits the child’s own allergy or dietary requirements and any setting arrangements. One M&S buttermilk pancake product lists wheat or gluten, milk and egg, so a familiar pancake type is not enough information on its own. |
| Portion size | Serve a child-sized amount and let appetite guide whether more is wanted. Treat pancakes as one starchy component of breakfast rather than an adult-sized stack. | I want enough flexibility to serve pancakes without pressure to finish a large portion. The British Nutrition Foundation gives 1/2 to 1 scotch pancake as an example starchy-food portion for 1-to-4-year-olds and notes that appetite varies day to day. |
The verified “Best of Both” item is Hovis bread with a stated 50% white and 50% wholemeal flour blend, not a pancake. A pancake’s colour, flavour or marketing wording does not establish its flour composition.
Check the pancake’s own ingredient list for the flour types used. If a defined white-and-wholegrain mix matters, making pancakes at home gives clearer control.
NHS guidance advises avoiding foods and drinks with sugar or sweeteners for children aged 4 and under. The British Nutrition Foundation also advises limiting sweetened versions such as scotch pancakes where possible.
For routine breakfasts, start with plain pancakes and use fruit or plain yoghurt when suitable for the child instead of relying on syrup or confectionery-style toppings.
Product recipes and allergen information can change. An M&S buttermilk pancake pack lists wheat or gluten, milk and egg, but another pack may have a different recipe.
Read the physical pack label at purchase and again before packing food for a child with an allergy or dietary restriction.
England guidance requires schools to publish an allergy safety policy, so arrangements can depend on the setting and the needs of its pupils.
Ask the school or nursery about its current policy before sending pancakes or other food containing relevant allergens.
M&S Food has a ready-made pancake range including buttermilk, blueberry, lemon, raisin-and-maple, red velvet, cookies-and-cream and pikelet options.
Tesco’s pancake category includes own-brand scotch, banana, buttermilk and flavoured pancakes alongside branded products.
Waitrose is relevant for clarifying the “Best of Both” term because it lists Hovis Best of Both as a bread product rather than a pancake.
Joybuy product options for preparing pancakes at home, with flexible serving sizes and toppings for a toddler breakfast.
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A mix for home-prepared pancakes, allowing the carer to make smaller pancakes and choose the toppings.
Preparation requires eggs, water and oil, with cooking in a pan or waffle iron. The stated yield is approximately 12 pancakes.
The label states 6.6g sugars and 0.13g salt per 100g when cooked as directed.
Contains wheat and milk, and preparation requires egg. Check the current ingredient label if a defined white-and-wholegrain flour blend is important.
No. The product using the Hovis Best of Both name is a medium sliced bread made with an equal blend of white and wholemeal flours. Use it as an example of a stated flour-blend claim, not as evidence that a similarly named pancake exists or has the same composition.
They can be convenient, but the routine choice should start with the current nutrition and ingredient label. NHS guidance advises avoiding foods and drinks with sugar or sweeteners for children aged 4 and under, and the British Nutrition Foundation advises limiting sweetened versions such as scotch pancakes where possible.
Keep the serving flexible rather than treating it as an adult breakfast stack. The British Nutrition Foundation gives 1/2 to 1 scotch pancake as an example starchy-food portion for 1-to-4-year-olds and notes that appetite varies day to day; offer more if the child is still hungry.
Many do, but each pack needs checking. M&S 4 Buttermilk Pancakes list wheat flour and cereals containing gluten, alongside milk and egg. Check the exact label if the child has coeliac disease, an allergy or another medically required restriction.
Check the individual setting’s current allergy safety policy and the product’s current allergen label before packing. Department for Education guidance says schools in England must publish an allergy safety policy; it does not create one identical packed-lunch rule for every school.